Justification According to NT Wright: Part Five

Paul and justification

Wright builds on all of these foundations when he defines justification according to Paul. “It is God’s declaration that a person is in the right—that is, (a) that the person’s sins have been forgiven and (b) that he or she is part of the single covenant family promised to Abraham”.¹ The quotation of Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4 is not to be separated from its context in Genesis, but is to be connected with the covenant. Abraham is not a random example, but chosen specifically show Paul’s point about the covenant. Those who are justified are like Abraham not only in their faith but also in that they have become part of his family.² 

Wright says that the initial moment of relationship between the believer and God is not justification, but is referred to by Paul as the “call”. Following the train of thought in Romans 8:29-30, he sees justification as based upon the call and thus reflecting reality.³ Faith is not something done to enter the covenant people, but it shows that one has become a member of the covenant family, in contrast to the Torah and the works therein which many Jews were using as a badge of membership in the people of God.⁴
 As mentioned earlier, justification actually happens twice: once in the future on the basis of the whole life of the person and once in the present in anticipation of the future justification.⁵ 

The result of Wright’s view of justification is that it has profound implications for table fellowship in the church. The boundary lines in the church are not between Jew and Gentile and between other nationalities and social groups, but between those who live holy lives and those who are still living in the flesh.⁶ Jesus Christ is true Israel, and all who belong to him are right with God.⁷ 

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